Brain cells that help raise blood sugar when it drops
Official title: GABA neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus contribute to the counterregulatory response
Funded at Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr · NIH-11323066 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at a specific group of brain cells that sense low blood sugar and help trigger the body's response, which could matter for people who get dangerous hypoglycemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $397,707 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129548-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323066 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with type 1 diabetes or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes who experience recurrent or severe hypoglycemia would be the most likely candidates for future studies based on this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without blood sugar problems or whose symptoms are not caused by hypoglycemia are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will focus on a small population of GABA-producing neurons in the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus that appear to change activity when glucose falls. In animal models they will watch these cells' activity with fiber photometry and electrophysiology, control them with optogenetics, profile their genes using Patch-seq, and alter genes with CRISPR. The team will measure how turning these cells on or off affects hormone release and blood glucose recovery after low blood sugar. The goal is to reveal mechanisms that could point to new ways to prevent or treat severe hypoglycemia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new approaches to prevent or treat dangerous low blood sugar in people with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown hypothalamic neurons help trigger counterregulation, but targeting this specific GABAergic neuron population is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: He, Yanlin — Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
- Study coordinator: He, Yanlin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Louisiana Nutrition for Precision Health Center at a Glance
A patient-facing center helping people participate in a national program to study how diet affects health by enrolling Louisiana residents in a 3-part study.
-
Breath Biomarkers for Metabolic Health and Diabetes Risk
A non-invasive breath test is being explored to identify metabolic health risks and predict outcomes in adults, including those with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.
-
FGF21 and how the body detects low protein to guide eating
A scientist team is studying how the liver hormone FGF21 helps the brain detect low protein in the diet and influences people (and animals) to seek and eat more protein.
-
Characterization of Infant Energy Balance to Support Healthy Early Growth
A study in healthy babies aims to map how infants’ energy intake and expenditure relate to growth to help prevent overweight in early childhood.
-
Cardiovascular risk, circadian misalignment, and longer eating windows in short sleepers
A study to understand how extending eating periods affects heart health in adults who sleep less than ideal hours.
-
Clinical Research Resources Core for multi-institutional translational trials
A broad program supports clinical research activities across several institutions to speed up high-quality trials and patient-centered studies.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.